Potato-digger.



Patented luiy 8, I902.

J. L. INGERSOLL. POTATO BIGGER. (Application filed Feb.- 28, 1902.\

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.) E (7 1L JET 2a l 5 on @7 UNITED STATES JOHN L. INGERSOLL, OFMAYVILLE, MICHIGAN.

POTATO- DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,046, dated July 8,1902. Application filed February 28. 1902. Serial No) 96,165. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. INGERSOLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mayville, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to potato-diggers, and particularly to that classof potato-diggers having a vibrating screen behind the shovel or plow,by means of which the earth and potatoes are separated.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for supportingthe shovel or plow, with the levers for raising or lowering the same. I

A further object is to provide a construction by which the vibratingscreen may be raised or lowered with the plow. This obj ect is effectedby attaching the screen to the bars which support the shovel.

A further object is the provision of a tedder above the screen andadjustable therewith to pick out and remove the vines and lighter stuffcarried back over the screen to prevent the screen from becomingclogged.

A further object is the provision of improved means to vibrate thescreen, whereby it is given a combined motion to and fro and up anddown.

A further object is to provide means for simultaneously raising orloweringthe shovel, the screen, and the tedder by a single handlever.

With these and other objects in view the invention is hereinafterdescribed and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a top plan View of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof, the near wheel being removed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of themachine. Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the shovel and screen detached.

With the exception of the pole and whifflethere is one on each side.

tree the entire machine is preferably constructed of iron and steel, andthe frame is indicated at 6, mounted upon the axle 7 by brackets 8,securely attached to the under side of'the frame. Said brackets havebearings for the axle, and the latter is provided with wheels 9%. Theframe also includes two bars 10, extending centrally lengthwise from endto end of the frame and securely attached thereto. These bars form asupport for the seat 11 and the tongue 12, as well as for other parts tobe hereinafter described.

The plow or shovel 21 is constructed of one piece of plate-steel-madeconcave or scoopshaped, converging to a point in front. This shovel isbolted to a rigid supporting-band of steel 22, which is made curved inform, corresponding to the rear of the shovel. This band is securelyattached to the under side of the shovel a short distance from the rearend thereof, and the ends of said band extend upward above the sides ofthe shovel and are bolted to main supporting-bars 23, of which Thesebars extend longitudinally under each side of the frame and have theshape of a compound curve. The front end of each is pivoted at 25 to aconnecting draft-link 24, which is pivotally attached to the front endof the frame as at 26. The rear end of each bar is supported by andpivotally attached to a depending crank-arm 27, said arm projecting fromthe end of a rock-shaft 28. The rock-shaft extends across the rear endof the frame and is journaled in bearings 29, secured to the frame.

'By crank-arm 30 and connecting-rod 31 the feature.

The vibrating screen is made. concave to correspond with the shape ofthe shovel, and this shape is particularly advantageous inasmuch as itdeposits the potatoes in a narrow row on the ground. Thescreen'consi'sts of a bar 35, carrying rearwardly-projecting rods 36.The bar is hung so that the front end of the screen extends under therear end of the shovel, so as to receive the earth and potatatoestherefrom, and it is vibrated by means of bent levers 37, to which thebar is bolted. There are two of these levers, one on each side, and theyare fulcrumed by pivot-bolts 38 to the main bar 23. The screen-bar 35 isbolted to the levers at or near the bend thereof. The front end of thescreen is protected from obstruction and from striking the ground byshoes 54, which are securely attached to the bottom of the shovel andextend rear- Wardly under the screen, so that an unobstructed space isformed between the shoes and the shovel, in which the screen mayvibrate.

The rearwardly-extending ends of the levers 37 are connected with arook-shaft 39, which is carried in bearings 42 at the rear end of theframe by means of crank-arms and links 41. This rock-shaft is operatedfrom the main axle by means of a crankarm 43 and pitman 44, which isdriven by a wrist-pin on crank-wheel 45. The connection between thepitman and the crankwheel may be adjustable, so as to regulate the throwof the pitman, and thereby the vibration of the screen. The shaft 46 ofthe crank-wheel is supported in proper bearings on the frame of themachine and is driven from the main axle by sprocket-wheels 47 and 48and chain 49. It will be seen that by the peculiar shape and connectionsof the levers 37 the screen is given a compound motion forward andbackward and up and down,

which is very advantageous to the operation and function of the screen.

A revolving toothed shaft or tedder, adaptscreen, whereby the stuff onthe screen is stirred and vines and the like removed, which prevents thescreen from being clogged and assists in its operation. The shaft 50 isdriven from the shaft 46 by means of chain 52 and sprocket-wheels 53 and54 on said shafts. To accommodate the vertical adjustment of the partsand to retain the chain 52 in proper tension, it is passed over rollers55, which are journaled in bearings in a bracket 56, attached to therear end of the frame. This permits of the raising and lowering of themain bars 23, and retains the chain in proper engagement with thesprocket-wheel.

It will be seen that the draft strain of the shovel is very well carriedand sustained by the connections with the front end of the bars 23andthat the peculiar shape and function of said bars permits them to carryall the active operative parts, which are all adjustable therewith.

What I claim is- 1. In a potato-digger, in combination, a frame and ashovel, and means to support and vertically adjust the shovel comprisinghorizontallydisposed bars to and between which the shovel is attached,said bars having at their front ends connecting-links to the frame, andlevers fulcrn med on the frame and connected to the bars rearward of theshovel to adjustably elevate the same.

2. The combination with a wheeled frame, of bars linked at their forwardends to the frame at each side thereof, a shovel secured to and betweenthe bars, bent vibrating levers pivoted to the bars, a screen suspendedfrom the lovers behind the shovel, and a revolving tedder journaled inthe bars and extending across above the screen.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. INGERSOLL.

Witnesses A. B. MARKHAM, O. L. SGHRAM.

